Fair Verona

View from the Arena looking back at Piazza Bra

Somehow, we managed to deposit luggage and people to our hotel at Verona and return the car to Verona without mishap. The 1881 Luxury Suites is right next to the arena, super modern and comfortable, with handy automated entry and exit. It is a block of 6 apartments with a lift and we'd recommend it if staying in Verona. We were able to let ourselves in for luggage storage in the morning before "checking in" officially at 3pm which really was only to wait until the apartment was ready after cleaning. They notified us on whatsapp as soon as the apartment was ready.

The rain that was present at Lake Garda yesterday stayed with us in Verona, albeit not too heavy thankfully. We had today to see most of the sights, so soldier on we did with our trusty raingear! Our 2 minute takeaway on Verona...a truly charming city at the elbow of the River Adige, also known as Little Italy (lots of roman antiquities including the iconic Roman Arena) and most famously known as the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. We finally encountered something in Verona which we had not really encountered thus far in Italy...lines. Yes, you read correctly. Lines in winter. Every man and his dog seemed to be out and about, literally. There were dogs everywhere with their owners everywhere!! There was a line to enter the Arena and there was a LONG line to enter Juliet's House. What?!! We had to quickly rejig our plans. Fortunately the line to enter the Roman Arena was not too bad.

We covered as much of the old town on foot as we could before taking the funicular up to Castello San Pietro. The original plan was to do it for sunset, but there were not going to be any sunsets today...from here there is a view of Verona with the river and it would have been spectacular with clear skies. A semi hazy view was the best we could get but it was better than nothing! 

We ended our day with a respite from the rain in the shops lining Via Mazzini. We called it quits after this and chilled at our apartment with a family movie night.

Automated light sensors

Modernised interiors in an old building

The Arena and Piazza Bra in the background. Prepwork was underway for the free NYE party here tomorrow night

On the upper level of the Arena

Opera's were staged here. Perhaps one day we will come back and watch one when it is not raining!

Piazza Bra

Via Mazzini, the main shopping street with many high end stores

We chose our treasure here...

Gigantic coke bottle candy. What could be better?!

A gigantic strawberry marshmallow

The very pretty Piazza Delle Erbe

The remains of Porta Leoni, an ancient Roman gate. Verona was a roman city in the 1st century BC

View of the city from the other side of the Adige River

Going up on the funicular. We could have walked...but nah!

City of Verona!

On the restored Roman bridge, Ponte Pietra

Pretty facades everywhere 

Basilica di Santa Anastasia

Let's get dry for a  bit

Piazza dei Signori. Also known as Piazza Dante (the man himself in the background)